Friday, 26 June 2015

Plenty of guests this month, so I’m using even the random Fridays. This is just another Heroika author! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Cas Peace!

Where do you live and write from?

I’m from the UK, from Hampshire, a southern county with a coastline and lots of lovely countryside. I’m fortunate enough to live in a pretty 1900s flint and brick cottage on the outskirts of a typically English village. It’s one of those places where most people know each other, and it’s a vibrant village with a good community. There’s always something going on, whether it’s a fete, a barn dance, a charity concert, or sports events. It’s a beautiful and a fun place to live. Both me and my husband work from home, and I have two favorite places to write. In the winter I write in my study, which also doubles as a music room. In the summer, I write either in my conservatory overlooking my garden, or actually in the garden, where I can watch the birds. My two rescue dogs love it when I write in the garden!

Why do you write?

I just love it. I love creating new worlds and characters, which is why I mainly write fantasy. I also like the feeling of being in total control of the world I’ve created – that is, until my characters take over and start doing their own thing! I also love dabbling with experimental pieces and also poetry. You never know what you can do until you try, and with writing, you can literally try anything you like. It’s very freeing, very liberating. It’s the only time I ever feel truly myself.

When did you start writing?

I began at school, I guess, I really enjoyed my English assignments, especially essays and creative writing lessons. I also contributed a few poems to school magazines. I didn’t get much time for writing when I was first married, but I do remember starting a YA fantasy of sorts when I realized my marriage wasn’t going as I’d hoped. But my writing career really got underway after me and my second husband returned from living in Italy, in 1994. I didn’t go back to work and had time on my hands. That’s when the writing Muse struck in earnest, and she hasn’t left me yet!

What genre(s) do you write?

I mostly write what I love to read: Fantasy. But I’ve also written a non-fiction book entitled For the Love of Daisy, which was a cathartic experience after our beloved Dalmatian, Daisy, developed a spinal condition. Dealing with a disabled dog who didn’t want to die was very hard, and I decided to write about our experiences and the various therapies and aids we found to enable her to live as full a life as possible.

What does your writing routine consist of?

I’m a full-time writer, so my day consists of walking the dogs until around 9.30 am, and then sitting down to write. After lunch I write some more until it’s time for the dogs’ second walk, and then I write until around 5 pm. I’m also a freelance editor/proofreader, so if I’m not actively writing, I’m working for clients. I’m very fortunate to be able to work like this.

What do you feel are your strengths as a writer? How have you developed these qualities?

I’m what I’d call an instinctive, or maybe intuitive writer. I haven’t done any writing courses or anything like that, I simply write what comes into my head. I like to use my own emotional life experiences to inject realism and emotion into my writing, although I do have one author friend who thinks I use far too much emotion! I can only write if my ideas are flowing well – if I get stuck on anything, I have to walk away until I know where I’m going again. I like to feel I’m in tune with my spiritual side, as well. Sometimes I feel I’d like to be able to write in a more literary style, but my brain simply doesn’t work that way.

Where do you find your inspiration? Do you put yourself in your stories?

As I never actually set out to become an author, the whole thing came as a complete surprise to me. I was simply bored one day after we’d come back from Italy, and just started writing out a little scene I’d had in my mind since watching a kids’ TV show in the 70s. That seemed to open some sort of floodgate, and my entire Artesans of Albia series (nine novels in all!) just came pouring out. So I have no idea at all where that inspiration came from! But the short story I wrote for HEROIKA: Dragon Eaters is inspired by the English patron saint, St. George. I decided to retell his slaying of the dragon, and also drew on some research I undertook into the lives and rituals of druids in Britain. There is an entire wealth of inspiration to be found everywhere you look – a creative writer can use almost any situation as the basis for a story. And I believe that every writer has to put at least a little bit of themselves into everything they write, otherwise it will have no authenticity.

Outliner or improviser? Fast or slow writer?

Definitely improviser, as you’ve probably guessed! But these days I think I’m edging more toward outlining, at least in a basic sense. I don’t like too many guidelines, and as long as I can see a beginning, a middle, and an end, I’m fine. I’m also pretty quick, because I’m too scared of losing the ideas. I scribble as quickly as I can, and then fine-tune later.

Tell us about your latest book

I’m still in the middle of publishing my triple-trilogy Artesans on Albia fantasy series. Five books have been published so far: King’s Envoy; King’s Champion; King’s Artesan; The Challenge; and The Circle. The sixth book, Full Circle, is a little late, it should have been out in April, but it will be out soon. The series is doing really well and I was thrilled when Janet Morris agreed to endorse the series. Here’s the link to King’s Envoy: http://geni.us/1o97

Indie publishing or traditional publishing – and why?

I was originally published by a US indie company, Rhemalda Publishing, who released my entire first trilogy, but they were forced to close their doors in 2011. I took some time thinking about what to do next but eventually decided to go down the self-publishing route. I’m extremely grateful to Rhemalda because not only was it a blast working with them, but I learned so much about the publishing game that it enabled me to go it alone. Now, unless I was fortunate enough to be approached by one of the larger publishing houses, I doubt I’d go back to being traditionally published. I really like the freedom of having complete control over my work.

Any other projects in the pipeline?

As I already mentioned, I’m still working on the remaining books of my Artesans fantasy series. I will continue to edit, copy-edit and proofread for clients, and also to write for anthologies. Because I am also a singer/songwriter, I also write and record folk-style songs to go with my Artesans novels. There’s a song or piece of music for each book so far, and I’m working on a song for the sixth book, entitled Beyond the Veils.

What is your goal as a writer and what are you doing to achieve it?

My main goal as a writer is to write the sort of novels and stories that I love to read, and to learn how to improve my writing. I’m doing this by taking notice of any feedback I get, and by pushing myself as a writer. If along the way my writing gives pleasure and excitement to others, then that is a bonus I never expected to achieve. I am always humbled when complete strangers become friends, by taking the trouble to tell me how much they’ve liked my books. It’s an awesome feeling.

What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

Never Give Up. I think most writers have been told this in their career, but it really holds true. You can’t learn to write if you never write, and you can’t achieve publicaton if you give up trying. Oh – and if you’re going to self-publish, do find yourself a good editor! *winks*

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

Cover Reveal!

The Cover of

Final Book of the

Trilogy and Sixth

Book in All!

FULL CIRCLE, this final book in the CIRCLE OF CONSPIRACY trilogy, brings to a conclusion Brynne Sullyan's quest to prevent Baron Reen from achieving his aim ... the destruction of the Veils and the annihilation of all Artesans. But despite her knowledge of the evil he has done, both to Albia's ruling structure and to her Artesan kin, Reen could still escape justice. The outcome of his trial depends on many things, not least the lack of hard, irrefutable evidence. With testimony from the Andaryans inadmissible in an Albian court, only the sly Captain Parren could possibly provide it. But Parren is nowhere to be found ...

Here's the back cover copy:

A fragile peace has been restored, but at what price?

Despite averting the destruction of the Veils and preventing
all-out war between two realms, Brynne Sullyan’s troubles are far from over.
Her marriage is in tatters, her military career sacrificed for the greater
good, and her impending motherhood a source of anxiety rather than joy. Fleeing
the shambles of her life in Albia, Sullyan seeks solace in Andaryon. Taran
accompanies her, but even he cannot protect her from her ravenous inner demons.

Baron Reen’s trial looms and his conviction is by no means
certain. Tad’s testimony and the capture of the traitorous Captain Parren may
be the keys to proving Reen’s guilt, but Tad’s life still hangs by a thread and
Parren has fled the Manor. Devastated by his wife’s betrayal and his own
failure to protect Tad, Robin vows to hunt down the traitor. Whether he
succeeds or fails, his quest for vengeance could be the undoing of them all…

Life is full of tragedy and heartache, and no outcome is guaranteed. Read FULL CIRCLE to discover the fate of Artesans in Albia:

Janet Morris.

Cas Peace has really done it up right this
time. The Circle of Conspiracy Trilogy is a real barnburner. In past books Ms
Peace has demonstrated the ability to create fast-paced action and unremitting
tension. In this novel she shows a maturing ability to handle conflict,
orchestrating the suspense beautifully.

Gordon A Long

A superb read. Non-stop intrigue and action. I
literally could not put it down.Anyone needing a good series to read should take up Book 1 and get
started. Cas Peace has created an unforgettable hero(ine) in Sullyan, and a
world that ranks alongside Middle Earth and Westeros.

David C Snell

This
book is an epic (and heroic) fantasy, a genre I like very much. Though I won’t
try to compare this book to the masters, it has a depth of history and a magic
system that is really strong. The conflict in the book between characters is
also powerful, because of the relationships between them. Honor and Duty are
difficult values to adhere to when they come into conflict with love and
affection. I think that the characters are very much the strong point of the
novel. I was very impressed.

A Week with the Dragon Eaters – Bruce Durham

Why are you embarking on this quest? Quest? I wouldn’t call what I do a quest. We hunt to survive.

Where are you from? (Tell us about it) I’m originally from Newmarket, near Toronto, but that’s a lifetime ago. Now what few of us remain live in an abandoned military base in the Arctic. It’s a good location, some natural defences, and the wyrms aren’t near as abundant as they are in the warmer climes. At least, for now.

*Tell us about dragons in your world. We call them wyrms. They don’t fly, just crawl and burrow. Tough as all hell, too. They only have one real weak spot.

What is the political system of your world? These days? Chaos. I have no idea how many of us are left on this world. Sometimes we make contact with other settlements via shortwave. But that’s just sometimes.Doesn’t usually last long.

Do you have a family? Not any more. Next question.

Do you see yourself as a hero? What is a hero? Haven’t got a clue. I’m a survivor. I look after my crew and pray I can get them home safely. If that makes me a hero, then so be it.

What is the technology level of your world? I don’t right know anymore, though we’re probably a generation away from barbarism, if we live that long.

Where do dragons come from? Apparently through a series of portals. Scientists theorized it was some kind of alternate dimensional thing. Frankly, it’s above my pay grade.

Are there other such monsters in your world? God, I hope not!

Author questions (choose from):

*Who are you? Bruce Durham. Author of some thirty plus short stories. Sometime artist. Now currently semi-retired from the working world.

Why did you choose this world/era to write in? I’ve always had a fascination with the Arctic. This theme allowed me to explore an idea of mine, how remnants of mankind would chance settling in some remote, seemingly inhospitable part of the planet just to prevent their extinction.

Give us a couple of lines about your characters. All of my characters are survivors. Mackenzie captains the crew of an ice-clipper in search of food for her settlement. Before that she was in the army, and when the wyrms arrived, become one of the first females to pilot a Mühle, a construct designed to fight the invaders.

How much research did you need for your story? I did a fair amount on the Arctic, primarily the abandoned DEW line bases and some of the geography in northern Canada.

Have you written for anthologies before? How does it differ from writing a novel? I’ve been involved with several anthologies over the years. I enjoy writing short stories. Themed anthologies can be especially fun, though challenging, but worth it when a story is accepted. Unlike novels, short stories force you to get right down to business and (hopefully) hook the reader from the get-go.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? I’m definitely a plotter, though the pantser takes over while doing the actual writing. It’s a trade-off, so long as I stick to the story I’ve outlined.

What other novels/short stories have you written? No novels yet, but I’ve appeared in several publications and anthologies over the years. My very first sale, The Marsh God, was published in ‘Flashing Swords’. It placed first in the annual Preditors & Editors poll that year for best SF&F in the short story category. It was subsequently adapted into a graphic novel. Some anthologies I’ve appeared in are: Valley of Bones in ‘Return of the Sword’, Yaggoth-Voor in ‘Rage of the Behemoth’, Deathstalk in ‘Sha’Daa: Last Call’, Plains of Hell in ‘Lawyers in Hell’, Colony in ‘Rogues in Hell’ andHell-hounds in ‘Poets in Hell’. Anezka appeared in ‘Paradox: The Magazine of Historical & Speculative Fiction’ and I have a couple of stories in the ‘Lovecraft eZine’: The Crane Horror and The Case of the Galloway Eidolon. The latter was a Sherlock Holmes/Lovecraft crossover with a serious shout-out to The Dark Man by Robert E. Howard.

What book(s) are you currently reading? The Invasion Year by Dewey Lambdin and Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia.

Tell us one unusual fact about yourself. I walked away from a plane crash back in the early 70s.